Naomi Osaka breaks down and walks out of press conference at French Open

Naomi Osaka broke down in tears and walked out of her French Open press conference after a first-round loss, saying, "I hate disappointing people"

Osaka was the first Asian to hold singles No. 1

Osaka was knocked out in the French Open first round (Image: Getty)

Naomi Osaka’s return to the French Open ended in heartbreak on Monday as the four-time Grand Slam champion lost in the first round and broke down in tears during her post-match press conference. 

The 27-year old was defeated by world No. 10 Paula Badosa, who recently gave an update on her health in a three-set battle, 7-6(1), 1-6, 4-6, committing 54 unforced errors in the process. The match marked another early exit at Roland Garros for Osaka, who has never advanced past the third round in Paris. 

American star Emma Navarro was also knocked out in a first round upset, while  the draw has given Coco Gauff a boost. But Osaka, who recently leapfrogged Emma Raducanu in the world rankings, was leaft heartbroken to be heading home. 

After the match, Osaka appeared visibly shaken as she addressed the media. At one point, she left the room in tears but returned briefly to answer two more questions.

“I hate disappointing people,” she said. “Even with Patrick [Mouratoglou], I was thinking just now—he goes from working with like the greatest player ever to like, what the f--- this is.”

Osaka was visibly upset at the press conference

Osaka was visibly upset at the press conference (Image: X/Twitter)

Mouratoglou, who previously coached Serena Williams, began working with Osaka during her comeback.Osaka also admitted that handling losses has become increasingly difficult. When asked if it was getting harder to deal with defeat, she softly replied, “Yes,” before elaborating, “I think as time goes on I feel like I should be doing better.”

The former world No. 1 has struggled to regain her form since returning to the tour in 2024 after taking the entire 2023 season off for maternity leave. Earlier this month, she won her first clay-court title at the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, raising hopes for a strong showing at Roland Garros. 

However, despite a promising start, Osaka's performance was marred by unforced errors and physical discomfort, including blisters on her fingers that required a medical timeout.

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Badosa, who has recently returned to competition after a back injury, credited her comeback to inspiration drawn from Rafael Nadal's legacy at Roland Garros. “I looked at Rafa's plaque and told myself to follow in his footsteps,” she said. “I had to fight like him.” 

Osaka's emotional response at the press conference echoes her previous struggles with mental health. In 2021, she withdrew from the French Open after being fined for skipping press obligations, citing long bouts of depression and anxiety since the 2018 US Open. Her decision sparked a global conversation about athletes' mental health and the pressures of media obligations.